The Wamego City Commission took care of business Tuesday evening. City Manager Merl Page introduced an ordinance to issue temporary notes in the amount of $690,000 for the West Highway 24, Unit 3 project. He said because this is a Benefit District, the temporary notes allow them to pay bills as the project proceeds. Because of a provision, approval of this ordinance allows the City of Wamego to move forward because the issuance requires approval by the State Attorney General. The ordinance was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
The Governing Body approved the ordinance for the annual updates by the Kansas League of Municipalities to the Standard Traffic Code and the Uniform Public Offense Code. Each was adopted separately by a vote of 5 to 0.
In addition, the ordinance was approved for the Final Plat recently approved by the Planning Commission for a property rezoned by the City located behind the Wamego Telecommunications Company (WTC) facility, and owned by Thomas Fulmer. A portion of this property is to be sold to WTC and requires publication for final approval.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Merl Page said approval was given at the last meeting to move forward with the refunding of General Obligation Bonds issued in December of 2008. The City would save over $61,000 in interest costs, and the Resolution authorizes the Mayor and City Clerk to move forward on the sale of bonds. He said the Bond closing will be the latter part of October.
In other business, the Governing Body approved the Financial Audit Proposal from Reese and Novelly in order to continue the client relationship for the next two years with a 3 percent fee increase each year. Page said there was a provision in the Proposal for a single-audit fee ($2500 to a maximum of $3,000), which the City hasn’t utilized in the past 9 years, and is only required if the City applies for a sizable grant. He said he can’t foresee this being an issue in the near future.
In his City Manager report, Page said the Power Plant is still progressing. The West Highway 24, Unit 3 project is underway, and is evident to all who travel on Highway 24 because the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Right-of-Way is underway. Plus, the mill and overlay project at the Airport will begin soon. The Airport will be closed for the duration of the project.
Tnhe Commission put its stamp of approval on everything presented at Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Merl Page presented the requests for banner placement across Highway 99 (also Lincoln Avenue) from Don Whitten for Veteran’s Day, in order to inform the public on all the Veteran’s Day’s activities for Wamego, Pottawatomie and Riley County’s.
In addition, Columbian Theatre Director Clint Stueve (Stevee) wants to place a banner for each of the Theatre’s productions for the rest of the season. He said will be 4 productions that run for 3 weekends each, and the banner would go up one-week prior and be left up during each of the productions. Each request was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
In other business, the Governing Body approved the request to vacate a small area bordering the West Highway 24 Unit 3 Project. Page said the easement was in place when the area was subdivided and no longer serves the purpose it was originally intended for. This also has to go before the Public for approval.
